Mechanical sign



June 17, 1941. YG, GORDQN 2,246,132

MECHANICAL S IGN FiledJuly v18, 1939 2 sheets-sneer 1 7 INVENTOR G. G 0111 0J@ BY @M g.

ATTORNEY June 17, G' GORDON MECHANICAL SIGN Filed July 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ mmm

INVENTOR G. 6501x601@ BY @Q ms;

ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED sTTEs MECHANICAL SIGN George Gordon, Sacramento, Calif. Application July 1s, 1939, serial No. 285,059

s claims.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in outdoor advertising or display signs, and in particular the invention is directed to an improved mechanical or animated sign.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanicalsign including body or housing adapted to carry an advertising sign or symbol and mounted for movement through a predetermined path; there being members which representl an animate object, such as the wings of a bird, projecting from said body or housing and mounted for movement to simulate the natural movement of the animate object represented thereby.v

Another object of the invention is toI provide a mechanical sign of the type described which includes in combination with a supporting tower assembly, a novel drive means arranged to eiect not only the movement of the body or housing through a predetermined path but also to simultaneouslyand without separate drive means, to accomplish the movement of the members which represent the animate objects.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical sign of the type described wherein the body or housing and the attached movable members may be used without the tower assembly, and in such event the movable members are driven through the medium of separate means included in part in said body or housing A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

2 on one side thereof. A vertical and hollow tower 3 is mounted on top the base and preferably tapers somewhat from bottom to top as shown. A tubular post Il is mounted on the base in vertical position and extends therefrom within the tower to its upper end; the upper end of the post terminating some distance above the adjacent end of the tower. f

A vertical drive shaft 5 is disposed in the post and extends from a point in the base I to a point adjacent but beyond the upper end of said post; such shaft being carriedv in the post by journals such as shown at 6. A motor I is mounted in the base and is connected in driving relation f with the lower end of Vertical shaft 5 by suitable drive mechanism indicated generally at 8.

The projecting portion of post 4 at theupper end of tower 3 supports a xed, horizontally disposed -and upwardly facing bevel gear 9. rA horizontal head I9 is keyed on shaft 5 immediately above gear9, and opposed horizontal shafts II and I2 are rotatably seated attheirinner ends in bores I3 and I4 respectively in said head. Pinions l5 and I6 are carried by shafts II and I2 and mesh with the Xed gear 9; pinion I5 being free on its shaft while pinion I6 is keyed on Shaft I2. Shaft enclosing sleeves Il and I8 surround shafts II and I2 and said sleeves are supported in non-turnable position by means of brace arms I9 which extend upward in diverging relation from a rotatable collar I9a on the top of the tower. The assembly including gear 9 and meshing pinions I5 and I6 are enclosed within a suitable case 29.

A counterbalance 2I depends from sleeve I'I outwardly of the corresponding brace arm I9, and such counterbalance is preferably constructed of sufficient vertical surface area to carry advertising matter. The outer end of sleeve I8, which surrounds shaft I2, is xed with one edge of a body or housing 22 adjacent the upper end thereof by means of an attaching bracket 23. This housing forms a support for the movable sign elements hereinafter described. In order to accommodate the requisite mechanism, housing 22 increases in width from top to bottom while having a constant thickness. One face of this housing is in the form of a removable plate 24. g

The outer end of shaft I2 projects from sleeve I8 into housing 22 and at such end is provided with a xed pinion 25 which meshes with a bevel gear 26 mounted on one end portion of a horizontally disposed crank shaft 21 journaled between the side plates of a rectangular and elongated supporting frame 28 in the housing. A connecting rod 29 on and depending from the crankshaft is pivoted at its lower end at 30 on the upper end of a vertically movable bar 3| which pojects through guides 32.

Opposed sign forming elements 33 which represent animate objects-such as wings of a birdare pivoted on a common axis 33a on frame 28 and which axis 33a is parallel to that o-f crankshaft 26; said elements 33 being of substantial length and projecting through slots 34 in the housing. A cross arm 35 is xed intermediate its ends on bar 3| above pivot 33a, and pivoted links 36 are connected between the outer ends of said cross arm and the corresponding elements 33 at a point outwardly of pivot 33a.

In use, -advertising matter or symbols are affixed on both faces of the housing 22 and, as will be obvious, operation of the motor 1 causes the housing to be carried about horizontally in a circle and vat the same time the elements 33 recurringly and simultaneously rise and fall in simulation of the movement of a birds wings.

In the event that it is desired to mount the housing 22 in a fixed position rather .than movable as Idescribed above, the tower and its associated driving assembly are omitted and the crankshaft 26 actuated from a pulley 31 mounted on the end thereof opposite gear 26; such pulley being` adapted -to be driven from a motor by an endless belt (not shown) which extends through a slot 38 in the bottom of housing 22.

My improved mechanical sign is one which will attract the attention of persons passing by the same, and thus is an excellent medium for advertising purposes.

While the structure has been particularly designed for use as a commercial sign, it may also be put to other uses, or be made as a toy.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention asset forth herein.

While `this specification sets forth in detail the.

present and preferred construction o-f the device, still inpractice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mechanical apparatus, a support, an element, means for mounting the element upon the support for movement in a predetermined path, a shaft, means rotatably mounting said shaft at one end on the support, driving connections between said end of the shaft and the movable element, separate means supporting thel shaft adjacent its other end for movement in a path at substantially right angles to the path of movement of the element, and drive means arranged to simultaneously rotate said shaft and move same in its path of movement.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said separate means includes a vertical tower; the shaft projecting substantially horizontally from'lthe upper end of said tower.

3. A mechanical sign comprising a substantially vertical tower, a shaft, means' rotatably mounting the shaft adjacent oneend on the upper vend of the tower in a substantially hori-v zontal and projecting position and for swinging movement horizontally in an arcuate path, a support depending from the other end portion of the shaft, a sign element, means mounting the sign element on the support for up and down movement in a substantially vertical plane, driving connections between the element and the adjacent end of the shaft, and drive means associated with the tower and arranged to simultaneously rotate the shaft and swing the same in said path.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which said drive means comprises a bevel gear fixed on the tower in horizontal position, a pinion secured on the adjacent portion of the shaft and meshing with said bevel gear, a rotatable member disposed inwardly of the pinion and with its axis aligned with that of the bevel gear, the shaft projecting inwardly from the pinion, the member having a radial socket in which the projecting portion of the shaft is rotatably seated, and drive meansto rotate said member.

5. A mechanical sign comprising a substantially vertical tower, a shaft journaled in said tower and extending to the top thereof, means to rotate said shaft, an upwardly facing bevel gear fixed on the upper end of the tower, a head of less diameter than the gear fixed on the upper end of the shaft and disposed adjacent but above the bevel gear, the head having a radial socket therein, a substantially horizontal shaft rotatably seated in the socket and projecting some distance from the tower, a pinion fixed on the shaft and meshing with the bevel gear,A a support depending from the outer end of the shaft, a signl element mounted on the support for movement relative thereto, and driving connections betweenI the shaft andsaid element.

6. A device as in claim 5 in which the head is formed with another and opposed radial socket,y

another shaft rotatably seated in said other socket and projecting therefrom, an idler pinion on said other shaft and meshing with ythe bevel gear, and a counterbalance depending from the projecting portion of said other shaft.

7. In combination, a shaft supported at one end and mounted for swinging movement in a predetermined path, a support depending from t-he other end portion of the shaft, an element formed to yrepresent' an animate object, means mounting said element on the supportffor relative movement. in a .predetermined path, driving connections between saidl element and the adjacent end of the. shaft anda drive mechanism operatively connected with the shaft and arranged to simultaneouslyrotate said shaft and move same inits pathof movement.

8; In combination, an opstanding tower, a shaft projecting from the tower adjacent its upper end, means rotatably mounting the shaft at one end on the tower lfor swinging movement ina predetermined path, a support depending from the outer end portion ofthe shaft, an element formed tol represent an animate object, means mounting said element on the support for relative movement in a predetermined path, driving connecwith the tower and connected withvthe shaft to simultaneously rotate said shaftand move 'same' in its path of' movement.

GEORGE GORD'N. I 

